November 12, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday assured Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali about the continuation of the democratic system in the country, saying it was in no danger but cautioned political parties not to hamper development work.

“Difference of opinion is their democratic right but there is also a need to rise above political expediencies and work together for the betterment and uplift of the people,” an official statement, after the meeting of the President and Prime Minister said.

President Musharraf expressed his “total support to the democratic process in the country, as it is vital for the progress and socio-economic development of Pakistan.”

The official statement said that the president and the prime minister reiterated that elements who want to subvert democracy would not be allowed to succeed. It said all the political parties wished Pakistan to progress and prosper.

Officials said that the President and Prime Minister also discussed the situation after the arrest of PML-N’s acting president Javed Hashmi and the threat of a protest movement by the opposition parties after Ramazan.

These officials said that Javed Hashmi might be released, adding that the establishment only wanted to convey a message that persistent tirade against a particular national institution would not be tolerated.

Officials said the president and the prime minister also conferred about parliament’s performance and the president expressed his “guarded satisfaction” on its one-year-long track record notwithstanding the opposition’s attempts to disrupt its smooth functioning.

Sources said the president was still in “no mood” to address the joint sitting of parliament.

The official statement, meanwhile, said that the two leaders exchanged views on various matters of national importance, with particular reference to economy, pace of ongoing development projects and law and order.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali congratulated the President on his successful tours of China and South Korea.